What to do if someone dies in Iceland

Iceland is one of the simpler repatriations available to UK families. The administrative process is efficient, documentation is straightforward, Icelandair flies direct to several UK airports, and the British Embassy in Reykjavik is experienced and responsive. The main complexity comes before the formal process: recovering the body from a remote outdoor fatality site.

Step 1: Notify the British Embassy Reykjavik

Address: Engjateigur 7, 105 Reykjavik. Phone: +354 550 5100. FCDO 24-hour emergency: +44 (0)20 7008 5000.

Step 2: Registers Iceland: death registration

Deaths are registered with Þjóðskrá Íslands (Registers Iceland). The attending doctor certifies cause of death at the hospital. Iceland has a centralised registration system; hospital deaths process quickly.

Step 3: Body recovery from remote locations

Iceland’s adventure tourism industry means deaths frequently occur in locations that require specialist recovery before formal procedures begin. ICE-SAR (Íslenska björgunarsveitin: the Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue) coordinates mountain and inland recovery operations. The Icelandic Coast Guard handles offshore and coastal incidents.

Common recovery scenarios: glacier crevasse accidents on Vatnajokull or Langjokull, falls on volcanic terrain near Hekla, hypothermia in the Icelandic Highlands, geothermal hot spring accidents, and fatalities during Northern Lights tours in winter darkness. Once the body is recovered and transferred to Landspítali in Reykjavik, the formal process begins.

Step 4: National Commissioner of Police investigation (unnatural deaths)

For unnatural deaths, the Lögreglustjórinn (National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police) investigates. Post-mortems are conducted at Landspítali National University Hospital’s Department of Pathology in Reykjavik. The police release the body once investigation is complete, which is typically within 5 to 7 days for straightforward cases.

Step 5: Medical Director of Health export permit

The Embættislæknir (Medical Director of Health) issues the export permit. Required documents: death certificate from Registers Iceland, police release, post-mortem report (if conducted), embalming certificate, freedom from contagious disease clearance. Allow two to three working days for the permit; Iceland’s administration is efficient.

Step 6: Icelandair direct cargo to the UK

Icelandair operates direct services from Reykjavik Keflavik International Airport (KEF) to London Heathrow, London Gatwick, and Manchester. Your specialist’s local agent will coordinate the cargo booking. Source: FCDO guidance on death in Iceland; Registers Iceland procedures; British Embassy Reykjavik consular guidance (2023).